Generic method for scheduling print engines using print engine capabilities

ABSTRACT

A system is provided for generically scheduling operations necessary to produce desired documents on a print engine. Such print engine scheduling employs identifying, sequencing, and initiating print engine operations that will produce a desired document. The system employs a specified description of print engines that enable a scheduler to look up what operations are necessary to produce portions of a document, to find allowable times for those operations, and to send control commands to various print engine components to perform the operations. The system is independent of any particular print engine configuration Thus, it is reusable for a wide range of configurations.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This is a related application to commonly owned U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/485,848, filed Jun. 7, 1995, entitled A METHOD FOR AUTOMATICALLY DERIVING PRINT ENGINE CAPABILITIES FOR INCREMENTAL SCHEDULING FROM COMPOSITIONAL PRINT ENGINE MODELS; U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/476,510, filed Jun. 7, 1995, entitled A SYSTEM FOR GENERICALLY DESCRIBING AND SCHEDULING OPERATION OF A MODULAR PRINTING MACHINE; U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/472,151, filed Jun. 7, 1995, entitled A GENERIC METHOD FOR DESCRIBING AND USING RESOURCES FOR PRINT ENGINE SCHEDULING; U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/485,846, filed Jun. 7, 1995, entitled A SYSTEM FOR AUTOMATICALLY CONFIGURING PRINT ENGINE SOFTWARE FROM PRINT ENGINE MODULE CAPABILITIES; U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/486,646, filed Jun. 7, 1995, entitled A GENERIC METHOD FOR SCHEDULING PRINT ENGINES USING PRINT ENGINE CAPABILITIES; and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/475,003, filed Jun. 7, 1995, entitled A GENERIC METHOD FOR AUTOMATICALLY GENERATING FINITE-STATE MACHINES FOR SCHEDULING FROM PRINT ENGINE CAPABILITIES; the contents of each of which are incorporated herein by reference.

This application pertains to the art of printing machines and more particularly to photo-duplication machines such as copiers.

The invention is particularly applicable to a system for generically scheduling the operations necessary to produce desired documents on a print engine. The system allows for automated scheduling of printing jobs pursuant to the capabilities associated with modular components forming a printing machine, and will be described with particular reference thereto. However, it will be appreciated that the invention has broader applications, such as in providing for an automated assessment of machine capabilities in view of modular components, as well as job-specific utilization in an efficient manner in view of the same.

Present day machinery, such as photocopiers, is often constructed from pre-fabricated components Such fabrication allows for mass production of each of the subassemblies of a machine while simultaneously allowing for customization to consumer's needs. Further, a consumer is provided with a means by which he or she may alter or upgrade capabilities of an existing base unit.

Earlier systems for distributed printing and distributed job scheduling may be found in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,287,194 and 5,363,175 commonly owned by the assignee hereof.

One concern with modular assembly of integrated units is the configuring and optimizing use of a completed system. While this is of concern for the manufacturer of an initial unit, it is perhaps an even greater concern to the end user. End users are often technically unsophisticated. However, they are driven by a desire for increased capability of a machine and a desire to maintain their value of the initial investment. Consumers are also averse to expenses associated with hiring a professional to upgrade or configure existing equipment.

To the extent earlier systems hoped to achieve automatic scheduling of print engine capabilities, such was accomplished only if a developer knew the particulars of a print engine beforehand. Even if individual modules were used, their interactions had to be analyzed and the resulting print engine information was generally not reusable.

The present invention contemplates a new and improved system for automatic scheduling of printing machine operations which overcomes the above-referred problems, and others, and provides a system with enhanced usability and configurability both prior to and after the machine leaves the factory.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a system for automatically scheduling print engine operation from descriptions of various individual modular machine components.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, a system is provided for integrating such generic component descriptions so as to allow for automatically recognizing a presence of one or more subassemblies and communicating their various functional descriptions to a centralized processor unit for generation of a printing machine schedule of operations.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, the system provides for an environment adapted for efficient, automated scheduling of a plurality of print jobs of various or varying characteristics.

An advantage of the present invention is the generation of a printing machine operation schedule that is conducive to easy and automatic configuration to various or varying subassemblies.

Another advantage of the present invention is the provision of a printing machine that is adapted such that it can be readily configured to maximum potential by an end-user.

Yet another advantage of the present invention is the provision of a printing machine that maximizes printing throughput by being adapted for efficiently scheduling and utilizing modular subassemblies in accordance with user-specified print jobs.

Further advantages will become apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art upon a reading and understanding of the subject specification.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention may take physical form in certain parts, and arrangements of parts, a preferred embodiment of which will be described in detail in this specification and illustrated in the accompanying drawings which form a part hereof, and wherein:

FIG. 1 provides a schematic of a representative, modular printing machine incorporating the automated configuration and scheduling of the subject invention;

FIG. 2 provides a flow chart detailing the hierarchical ordering of operations to accomplish the configuration and scheduling of the present invention;

FIG. 3 provides a diagram of a representative, generic description of a print machine component as used in connection with the subject automated scheduling and configuration of the subject invention;

FIG. 4 is a block diagram depicting the interaction of the scheduler and control code using resources as provided in the subject invention;

FIG. 5, is a block diagram of the subject system in which print engine capabilities are derived from module capabilities; and

FIG. 6 is a diagram of a generic scheduling with print engine capabilities.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Turning now to the drawings wherein the purpose is to illustrate the preferred embodiment of the invention only, and not to limit the same, FIG. 1 illustrates an embodiment of the subject invention having a modular print engine A, which includes a plurality of modules or subassemblies B and a data-processor unit for configuration and scheduling C. As used herein "print engine" includes any reprographic machine, such as printers, copiers, facsimile machines, and the like.

As will be detailed below, various capabilities provided with each of the modules B are ascertained and correlated in the data processor unit C. Such correlated and analyzed data is further analyzed in view of user input defining a desired printer operation, or series of operations. This is, in turn, used to optimize, schedule, and control operation of the printing machine to most efficiently accomplish the series of printing tasks. The subject system is described by way of example with a copier machine. It will be appreciated that generic description, resource assessment and scheduling may be practicable on any modular, material handling system.

With the particular example of FIG. 1, the modules B are illustrated as including a plurality of paper storage bins. In the illustration, these include bins 10, 12, and 14. The plurality of bins may be representative of different paper sizes or secondary or reserved storage capability. A sheet feeder mechanism is illustrated schematically at 16. As will be appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art a sheet feeder such as that illustrated at 16 will function to obtain sheet stock from one or more of the bins.

The feeder 16 will feed sheet stock to a conveyor 18. The conveyor will, in turn, feed sheet stock to a print mechanism 20, the particular construction of which will be well within the understanding of one of ordinary skill in the art. Also illustrated in the figure is an inverter mechanism 30 that may selectively invert or flip sheet stock that progresses along the conveyor 18. A feedback-unit 32 is provided for returning sheet stock to the printer mechanism 20 for duplex printing thereof.

In the illustration, the conveyor 18 provides a path to a stapling mechanism 34 for selective stapling of printed documents. The final illustrated component in the group of modules B illustrates a plurality of output bins represented by bins 38 and 40.

Turning to the data processor unit C, included therein is a data input/output ("I/O") unit 40 which is in data communication with a central processor unit ("CPU")/storage scheduling unit 42, the details of which will be described further below. A data path is provided between the data I/O unit 40 and each of the modules B.

In the preferred embodiment, each module B includes therein a description associated with various functions and capabilities thereof. The particulars of such a generic description will be detailed below. The data path between each of the illustrated modules and the data I/O unit allows for acquisition to the data processor unit C of all such description. In the preferred embodiment, any module B will communicate its associated description to the data I/O unit upon connection to the modular print engine A. This ability allows for "plug-and-play" capability of the subject system.

Data interconnections between the data I/O unit 40 of the data processor C and the various modules B also allow for controller activation thereof. Thus, the data processor unit C has ascertained from the available modules the complete set of capabilities of the modular print engine A. This information, coupled with user input 44 to the data I/O unit 40 allows for efficient scheduling of available modular resources to accomplish a series of printing jobs by use of the available components.

Turning next to FIG. 2, the basic format for generic print engine description and scheduling will be described. As alluded to earlier, past attempts for automated print engine scheduling software were based on an analysis of a complete engine configuration. The results of this analysis are required for writing of dedicated software specific to a particular configuration. Conversely, the subject system provides for separation of scheduling software into two parts. In a first part, a scheduler architecture is provided with generic algorithms. In a second part, machine-specific information is also provided in a format detailed below.

Given a document to be printed on a given print engine, a scheduler is provided which serves to identify, schedule, and initiate machine operations for producing a document. In the illustration of FIG. 1, such operations may include feeding of sheets, moving of sheets, preparation of images, transferring of images to sheets, etc. It will be appreciated that a document to be printed typically arrives incrementally (e.g., sheet-by-sheet). Scheduling and schedule execution (printing) usually happen concurrently. As a consequence, machine-specific information used by a scheduler is advantageously structured such that the scheduler is able to identify which operations will produce the required sheet. Further, the system must be aware of constraints which must be observed when scheduling operations. Additionally, the system is provided with a means by which it may send appropriate commands to the modules to allow them to accomplish their available functions.

In the diagram of FIG. 2, the particular system for preparing the machine-specific information is depicted. The system commences by using declarative descriptions (models) of printing engine modules in block 100. Such a model advantageously contains a description of a module's structure and potential behavior of its components. As noted in the example of FIG. 1, possible components include feed trays, transport belts, transfer components, inverters, gates, etc. Potential behaviors may be, by way of example, either bypassing an inverter or using it to invert a sheet. The step of modeling is typically performed by an engineer using a modeling language, of which the details of a preferred embodiment will be provided below.

At block 102, a module has already been modeled by its components. Next, an automatic derivation of potential behaviors of an entire module is then fabricated from information obtained from the component models. This derivation may be performed, by way of example, by simulation or partial evaluation, and by environment. Simulation is commonly understood as the execution of models to mirror the execution of the real system. Partial evaluation is commonly understood as the partial execution of programs, leaving certain parts of the programs unexecuted and to be evaluated at a later time. Environment is commonly understood as the exploration of all potential behaviors of a system by, for example, repeatedly and in various ways exercising simulation or partial evaluation of its models. The resulting module behavior is comprised of an output produced by a particular behavior, inputs from which the output is produced, individual operations required to produce it (its "itinerary"), as well as various constraints on resources and timings to be observed when performing the operations. Some or all of this information may advantageously be precompiled. By way of example, this may be compiled to finite-state machines

When print engine modules B (FIG. 1) are plugged together to form a new configuration, different module behaviors are collected and automatically composed via the data processor unit C to generate potential behaviors of a complete print engine A.

The afore-noted composition is also suitably enabled to occur dynamically; i.e., each time a behavior is to be selected by the scheduler, it composes module behaviors "on the fly." Thus, a composition may be done only once (after modules are first plugged together), or each time they are needed. The latter option has an advantage of accounting for dynamic module changes. Thus, the system may complete the FIG. 2 sequence each time a machine behavior is selected. It may be prohibitive to do so due to the time-consuming computations. However, this may be a more efficient approach in specific circumstances.

In block 104, the afore-noted overall behavior is advantageously modeled in a format similar to that associated with the individual module behavior noted above. Per distinct overall behavior, the system provides an output description (for behavior identification), resource and timing constraints (for sequencing), and data comprising an itinerary (for subsequent control of machine operations).

Next, a portion of machine behavior information is advantageously compiled for efficient use in a matching scheduler algorithm at which point the system progresses to block 106. By way of example, a compilation of potential interactions of timing and resource constraints may be made to a finite-state machine. An example of finite-state machine scheduling may be found in the co-owned U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/426,207, filed Apr. 21, 1995, entitled PRINT SEQUENCE SCHEDULING SYSTEM FOR DUPLEX PRINTING APPLICATION, which issued as U.S. Pat. No. 5,504,568 on Apr. 2, 1996, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. At block 108, a full set of compiled behaviors has been obtained.

Lastly, at block 110, an output description of machine behaviors is used by a generic scheduler to identify behaviors that will produce an output document given the original constraints (either in original or compiled form). These behaviors are used to find a correct timing for each particular behavior's operation and itineraries which are used to initiate necessary operations of the modules B.

While the afore-going description is provided by way of preferred embodiment, it will be appreciated that not all of the steps are required to provide a usable system. For example, only a portion of all components need be modeled, and compilation of all constraints need not be accomplished.

With the system described above, modular ("plug-and-play") scheduling of print engine modules is facilitated. The system also allows for reuse of scheduling software for a wide range of configurations. The system also provides for automating all steps except for obtaining the initial description of the discrete modules forming the machine and for development of the generic scheduling algorithms.

Turning now to FIG. 3, a particular system for modeling component behavior will be described. The particular system of the preferred embodiment is for a description of print engine component behavior for print engine analysis, simulation, and scheduling. As noted above, the basic, generic description method is equally applicable to various other modular systems.

In the subject description method, structure and behavior of components is described in terms of capabilities (potential operations) for which constraints on work units, timings, and resources are stated. This modeling system enables structural and behavioral composition of components for analysis and simulation of component interactions in print engines. The system is particularly applicable for scheduling operation of modular print engines.

With the subject scheme, one may describe print engine components such that print engines fabricated therefrom may be described by composing component descriptions. Further, various applications may be performed automatically on resulting print engine description. This enables one to automatically use such information for analysis, simulation, scheduling, and related print engine applications. In the illustrated example of FIG. 3, descriptions associated with an inverter 150, analogous to the inverter 30 of FIG. 1, are provided with model 150'. Components of a modeled structure and behavior are determined by both physics of the component itself, as well as an application context in which a model is used.

In the system, a structure model of a component is defined as consisting of its physical interface, software interface and internal resources. For example, a physical interface is an input port 152 in which work units (sheets) enter and a port 154 from which said work units exit. Associated software interface functions primarily for control commands and parameters. Internal resources are defined as objects needed to perform a particular behavior whereby multiple uses of each object by repeated execution of the behavior is restricted. By way of example in FIG. 3, a resource is defined as the position of an associated gate 156. Another example of a resource is a space 158 between opposing output rollers 160 of the inverter 150, particularly illustrated at 150'. Here, as with most points of the paper path, there is sufficient space for only one sheet at any single point in time. Thus, the space 158 is defined as a resource.

A behavior model of a component is utilized to describe capabilities of the particular component in terms of how the component may work on work units moving through the component. Further, the behavior dictates what constraints must be observed when performing the associated behavior.

A component capability is defined as comprising: a description of work units and a transformation of work units; timed events like the input and output of a work unit; resource allocations for this transformation; and constraints on the timing of such events and resource allocations. Work units are advantageously described in terms of their attributes. Restrictions and transformations of work units are advantageously described in terms of constraints on their attributes.

In FIG. 3, some additional model descriptions are provided. These include a description associated with a particular work unit, such as a sheet illustrated at 164. A control situation, such as whether to bypass the inverter 150 or utilize it for inversion is illustrated at 166. A timing parameter, such as a specification of path length and roller speed is provided at 168. By way of example, associated timing constraints are suitably obtained using a formula based on path length and roller speed; e.g., time out may be defined as time in plus path length, divided by roller speed. Certain values are also suitably parameters of the model. For example, the path length of a given inverter may be fixed while roller speed may vary and may therefore be set by the environment with respect to a model that is used. A roller-speed parameter is illustrated at 170.

By way of particular example, the following listing provides a suitable model of an inverter as depicted in connection with FIG. 3:

    ______________________________________                                         Component inverter(length: Millimeters, speed: MillimetersPerSecond)           Has                                                                            EntryPorts in: Sheet;                                                          ExitPorts out: Sheet;                                                          Resources inR, outR: Signal; gateR: State({Bypassing,Inverting},               Bypassing);                                                                    Variables s, s.sub.-- in, s.sub.-- out: Sheet; t.sub.-- in, t.sub.-- out,      t.sub.-- gate: Interval;                                                       Capability bypass(t.sub.-- in) Is                                              in.input(s, t.sub.-- in);                                                      out.output(s, t.sub.-- out);                                                   inR.allocate(1, t.sub.-- in);                                                  outR.allocate(1, t.sub.-- out);                                                gateR.allocate(Bypassing, t.sub.-- gate);                                      t.sub.-- in.START + length/speed = t.sub.-- out.START;                         t.sub.-- in.DURATION = t.sub.-- out.DURATION;                                  t.sub.-- gate.START = t.sub.-- in.START;                                       t.sub.-- gate.END = t.sub.-- out.END                                           End bypass;                                                                    Capability invert(t.sub.-- in) Is                                              in.input(s.sub.-- in, t.sub.-- out);                                           out.output(s.sub.-- out, t.sub.-- out);                                        inR.allocate(1, t.sub.-- in);                                                  outR.allocate(1, t.sub.-- out);                                                gateR.allocate(Inverting, t.sub.-- gate);                                      s.sub.-- out = s.sub.-- in with                                                               {SHEET.ORIENTATION=                                                            Rotate(Y, 180, s.sub.-- in.SHEET,                                              ORIENTATION)};                                                  t.sub.-- in.START + length/speed +                                             SheetLength(s.sub.-- in.SHEET.SIZE)/speed=t.sub.-- out.START;                  t.sub.-- in.DURATION = t.sub.-- out.DURATION;                                  t.sub.-- gate.START = t.sub.-- in.START;                                       t.sub.-- gate.END = t.sub.-- out.END                                           End invert                                                                     End inverter.                                                                  ______________________________________                                    

This model declares two parameters (length and speed), one entry port (in) one exit port (out), three resources (inR, outR and gateR, of types Signal respectively State), and six variables (of types Sheet and Interval). Then the model defines two capabilities (bypass and invert). For capability bypass, it is defined that a sheet s enters at time t₋₋ in and exits at time t₋₋ out, that allocations in all three resources are made at the respective intervals t₋₋ in, t₋₋ out and t₋₋ gate, and that various timing constraints reflecting the traveling time from entry to exit hold between the intervals. Capability invert is defined similarly, except that the sheet changes its orientation by 180° (rotated around the y axis), and that the traveling time is longer (proportional to the sheet's size). Thus, it will be appreciated that a complete and functional description of any component may be similarly provided.

With the disclosed modeling system, a component structure is described without relying on any reference to descriptions of or interactions with other components. Such component behavior is described on one work unit without other units. Further, the disclosed modeling system enables automatic behavioral composition of component capabilities for generic and incremental analysis, simulation, and scheduling of print engines. This description format allows automatic structural composition of component models to models describing connected components (for example, print engine modules).

Conversely, earlier approaches had their capabilities and constraints expressed in terms of both specific interactions between components and interactions between sequences of sheets or images. This renders them more difficult to define, non-reusable, and non-compositional. The system modeling format allows for the automatic configuration, optimization, and scheduling described above.

As will be appreciated from the foregoing, scheduling a print engine means, to a large part, a scheduling of associated resources. To do this effectively, one must model the resources used by a print engine operation such that information may be used for incremental scheduling of valid sequences of those operations. Besides being applicable to a wide range of print engine operations, resources may also suitably serve as generic interfaces between a scheduler and the rest of the print engine control software for purposes of communicating changes in the machine.

Components of a machine, such as a print engine, will usually require resources to perform their capabilities. By way of example particular to a printing machine, a resource may be space on a belt, a gate that must be in a certain position, or some element that is being put to multiple or overlapping uses. One may view the capacity of a bin of paper as being one instance of such multiple or overlapping uses.

Allocations of resources are suitably modeled explicitly as a part of a description of a component's behavior. As used herein, resource allocation is defined as a specification of a resource requirement, together with a time interval during which a particular resource is required. Again, by way of example, an imaging capability requires space on a photoreceptor belt for a certain amount of time. As another example, an invert capability requires an inverter gate to be in a correct position while a sheet is being inverted.

As defined herein, a resource requirement is chosen to depend on a particular type of resource. Possible resource types include such items as Boolean resources (resources which are either used or not used), enumerated or state resources (which are placed in one of the available states), capacity resources (were concurrent uses add up), and the like. Such resource types are advantageously described generically by resource constraints. Resource constraints, themselves, determine consistency for multiple allocations for the same resource.

By way of example, Boolean resource allocations, such as space on a belt, must not overlap in time. Conversely, state resource allocations may overlap if they require the same state. Capacity resource allocations may overlap if the sum of the requirements never exceeds the given capacity. Such resource types may be extended easily by changing or adding to the afore-noted resource constraints.

Time intervals of resource allocations may be suitably connected by interval constraints. As defined herein, a resource constraint system and an interval constraint system are orthogonal to one another. A description of resource allocations and timing constraints fit well into a compositional modeling paradigm for scheduling.

Once all components have been fully modeled, a print engine will ultimately be moved to a run time state. Turning particularly to FIG. 4, evidenced therein is a scheduler 200 which is in data communication with a representative print engine module 202. The print engine module 202 is, in turn, comprised of several components, each using resources selectively disposed along a paper/image path 204. Such resources are exemplified by those components respectively, their resources 210, 212, 214, 216, 218, and 220. Each of these resources is suitably described in the same fashion, of which a representative one is detailed at 216'. A system includes a control code portion 220, a component/models portion 222, and various communication paths. The control path 224 allows for passing of control commands from the control code portion 220 to the component/models portion 222. Similarly, a sensor path 226 allows for communication of sensor data in the opposite direction. A path 228 represents the scheduled use of resources by the component; more precisely, it stands for the communication of knowledge from the model 222 describing the component to the scheduler, where this knowledge is used to schedule correct uses of the resource. A path 230 allows for control and sensor information to be similarly communicated to the scheduler 200.

At run time, when scheduling operations, the scheduler 200 instantiates the interval such that the corresponding allocations for the same resources satisfy required resource constraints. This is also suitably done incrementally by keeping track of past resource allocations.

During a normal operation the scheduler 200 takes into account only its own allocations. To do this, it uses its model of the system to predict a use of resources for operations it has scheduled.

That system is also readily adaptable to a real-life, reactive environment wherein resources sometimes become unavailable or become restricted to a subset of the normal capacity. Such variations in real hardware are typically monitored by a module's control software disposed, in the example, in the control code portion 220. It will be appreciated that in earlier systems, the control software was required to have a special interface to the scheduler in order to communicate deviations between modeled and real hardware or to allow for a scheduler to have access to data of the controlled software.

Resource management within the scheduler 200 is suitably made accessible to an environment. More specifically, it is made available to the component control code as represented by 220. As with the scheduler 200, the control code 220 is then suitably enabled to make calculations in such resources to reflect changes in the hardware. In turn, this enables the scheduler 200 to automatically take system changes into account.

The foregoing models are used to define a default behavior (resource allocations) of component capabilities. Meanwhile, control code itself dynamically adapts that behavior to reflect a current situation. This is suitably extended even further if an environment is allowed to change the resource constraints. In general, this means that control software is seen as controlling resources (starting from a default definition) while a scheduler is using those resources.

In an actual on-line implementation, a scheduler will advantageously make such future allocations automatically and take them into account. When the scheduler looks ahead to make further allocations, allocations are suitably tagged with different priorities depending on whether they come from the scheduler 200 (respectively models 222) or from the control code 220. With this, any allocations by the scheduler that are inconsistent with allocations by an environment are suitably identified automatically and may be redone.

The subject system provides generic scheduling of software associated with print-engine-specific information. This is provided even if a print engine has been composed by a customer from individual print engine modules. The system builds on a description of print engine modules which has been made in accordance with module capabilities. As used herein, a module capability is essentially a potential module output. For example, a module output produced by a module capability of a print engine module may be a sheet of size A4 having two images placed on it and being delivered face-down.

More particularly, module capability may be considered a trace of a production of a particular output. This suitably contains descriptions of both input and output work units at module ports. Turning particularly to FIG. 5, representative print engine 250 includes modules 252, 254, and 256 which are connected at ports 270 and 272, respectively. These modules are provided with illustrated capabilities 260, 262, and 264, respectively. The illustration further provides data communication paths 274 for modules 252, 254, and 256 to report their capabilities to the print engine control software.

By way of particular example, the illustration provides that module 252 contains input trays 280. The module 254 contains a photoreceptor 282 and a duplex feedback mechanism 284. The module 256 provides output trays 286.

A module capability suitably contains descriptions of both input and output work units associated with the module entry and exit ports, respectively resource allocations required for a desired production and an itinerary through which an output is produced. Work units are suitably described by constraints on their attributes. Resource allocations are stated together with constraints on their time intervals.

A module's resource allocations may suitably exist in compiled form. For example, resource allocations may exist as possible variations of allocations in a finite-state machine.

For the purpose of illustration, let <I, O, R, C> reflect a particular capability with inputs I, output O, resource allocations R, and an itinerary C. When modules forming a new print engine are plugged together and the engine is started up, the scheduler or another connected software component configures itself by collecting and composing module capabilities 290 which are obtained from all modules from a print engine via connections 274, 274', and 274".

Module capabilities are composed to machine capabilities by recursively composing module capabilities of two machine modules connected at a port. For example, if first and second modules are connected at port p, then for every module capability <I₁,O₁,R₁,C₁ > of a first module that produces an output at p (defined by O₁), and for every module capability <I₂,O₂,R₂,C₂ > of a second module that expects an input at p (defined in I₂), the capabilities are suitably composed if a respective input and output in O₁ and I₂ can be unified. Attribute constraints are propagated in the process.

For example, if O₁ restricts the sheet size, this is propagated via I₂ to the second capability. Upon successful unification, composite capability <I, O, R, C> is generated by setting I to I₁ +I₂ without port p's input in I₂, O to O₂, R to R₁ joined to R₂, and C to C₁ concatenated with C₂.

This composition of module capabilities will be performed until a resulting capability contains only inputs and outputs that are not inputs and outputs at ports between modules. That is, there are no further module capabilities that are connected to the inputs or outputs. Such a resulting capability is a print engine capability. As modules typically have several distinct capabilities, each composition of module capabilities will be performed for all alternatives, resulting in a multitude of print engine capabilities. For example, if each module in FIG. 5 has two capabilities, the complete print engine has potentially eight capabilities, less if the inputs of some module capabilities cannot be unified with the outputs of other module capabilities.

It will be appreciated that this method also works for circular paths, where the same work unit moves (possibly through several modules) back to the same port one or more times. This functions as long as attributes are uniquely changed each time and there is only a finite number of accepted attribute values in inputs and/or outputs.

Such composition of module capabilities may be performed efficiently. This is especially important insofar as print engine start-up time is ideally very low. A particular advantage of this system is that it produces a description of a module print engine that enables the scheduler at run time to generically schedule operations in the print engine's modules. Through propagation of work unit attribute constraints and composition of resource allocations with timing constraints, the scheduler is guaranteed to allow only correct interactions between modules.

For example, if delays between sheets are required in a finisher module, the system will suitably and automatically propagate this to all previous modules and as required. As noted earlier, this is in contrast to former approaches wherein potential interactions between print engine modules must be known at the time the scheduling software is developed.

As a variation, the composition of module capabilities is not performed when the print engine is started up, but instead at each time a complete print engine capability has to be identified by the scheduler. In this case, the method described above is suitably performed backwards through the modules, starting with an attribute description of a desired output at a print engine exit port, and matching that output description against output descriptions of module capabilities producing outputs at that port. The method will then again unify inputs of selected module capabilities with outputs of connected, previous module capabilities. If an input cannot be unified with an output of a connected, previous module capability (i.e. the desired input cannot be produced by the previous module), the method back tracks and tries alternative module capabilities. Such composition is done until all inputs of the resulting capability are inputs of the print engine. The resulting capability is a print engine capability able to produce the desired output. The remaining data, resource, timing, and itinerary information are composed as described above and can used for the correct scheduling and execution of the resulting capability.

Next, a system for generically scheduling operations necessary to produce desired documents on a print engine will be described. This operation builds on a separation of generic scheduling algorithms and print-engine-specific information. This allows both the algorithms and the print engine architecture to be reusable for a wide range of print engine families. This is in contrast to earlier methods wherein information about a print engine for a scheduler was developed and built into the scheduling algorithms. Thus, in these earlier systems, the incorporated algorithms could not be reused easily.

Turning particularly to FIG. 6, a set of print engine capabilities is represented at 300. Actual scheduling of printing machine operation includes a step 302 of identifying a set of operations necessary to accomplish the desired result. Next, a timed sequence of these operations is determined at block 304. At block 306, actual initiation of the execution of these print machine operations is accomplished and a set of component control commands is provided as an output from the scheduling system at 308.

From the illustration of FIG. 6, the print engine capabilities 300 will be noted to include information as to output, constraints, and itinerary information. The block 302 identification results in the generation of a subset of such capabilities, which subset is illustrated generally at 320. The selected capabilities 320 are, in turn, utilized in connection with the sequence operation 304 and the initiation operation 306.

Tracing flow of an actual document through the system of FIG. 6 commences wherein a document is provided to the identification block 302 as a sequence of sheets. From this point, for each sheet the required capabilities necessary to accomplish formation of the desired sheet is determined. The output of the identification block 302 provides such raw capabilities in an untimed form. In the sequence block 304, the timing information necessary to accomplish formation of the sheet is provided. By way of example, this can be achieved by solving the (timing and resource allocation) constraints, as will be obvious to one skilled in the art. Thus, the output from block 304 to 306 has provided with it a reference to timed capabilities. As noted above, this returns the control commands at 308. Each control command typically consists of at least three elements: identification of a print engine component or module, identification of an operation that this component or module has to execute, and a time at which the operation has to be executed.

In the subject system, scheduling typically has to work incrementally; that is it schedules one element of a document after another. By way of example, each sheet of a document is scheduled in sequence. It will be appreciated that other document elements, such as its pages instead of sheets, could be scheduled incrementally. In the illustration of FIG. 6, the capabilities 300 are noted to be split into capabilities per document elements to accomplish this task

As a variation, scheduling may also work hierarchically, especially if a document consists of several sets, which in turn consist of several sheets. In this case, the identification component may select a print engine capability that will produce the set, but the identification component will then go on to identify, sequence and initiate the operations for the set's sheets before it sequences and initiates the operations for the set.

In the subject system, scheduling also typically has to work concurrently to printing. In the illustration of FIG. 6, the system is noted to be split into several components which may run in parallel to accomplish this task.

A suitable example of print engine capability, such as that found at 300 in FIG. 6, may be a potential print engine output. For example, such an output may be a face-down A4 sheet having two images on it. In more detail, a print engine capability contains descriptions of an output work unit as defined at a machine's exit ports, resource allocations required for producing the output and an itinerary (set of control commands) through which the output is produced. Work units, such as sheets in a print engine, are suitably described by constraints on their attributes as noted in detail above. These attribute constraints can be used by the identification component 302 by matching a corresponding attribute description of the document against attribute constraints of the print engine capabilities. Such resource allocations are advantageously stated together with constraints on their time intervals. It will be appreciated that resource allocations and interval constraints may also be provided in compiled or partially compiled form, such as in a finite-state machine.

As a variation, print engine capabilities may not be given as complete capabilities of the entire print engine. Instead, the capabilities of each print engine module may be provided separately and the identification component 302 will then compose these module capabilities to identify the necessary complete operations of the print engine, proceeding backwards from a print engine exit as noted in detail above.

This invention has been described with reference to the preferred embodiment. Obviously, modifications and alterations will occur to others upon a reading and understanding of the specification. It is intended that all such modifications and alterations be included insofar as they come within the scope of the appended claims or the equivalents thereof. 

Having thus described the invention, it is now claimed:
 1. A system for generically scheduling machine operation of a machine having a generic scheduler and machine-specific information wherein the generic scheduler operates independent of the machine-specific information, the system comprising:receiving means for receiving generic description data representative of capabilities of a plurality of machine modules, wherein each machine module which supplies generic description data, is modeled in accordance with its machine-specific information independent of machine-specific information of any other machine module; identification means for identifying a set of capabilities necessary to produce a specified article by selective utilization of the machine modules; sequence means for sequencing machine operations of a set of capabilities identified by the identification means, including solving for constraints existing in the selected machine modules so as to produce the specified article; and initiation means for initiating a sequence of machine operations determined by the sequence means so as to produce the specified article.
 2. The system for generically scheduling machine operation of claim 1 wherein the receiving means includes means for receiving the generic description data formed from data representative of:output work units of at least one machine module at an exit port thereof; timing data associated with module utilization for producing the specified article; and an itinerary through which the specified article is produced.
 3. The system for generically scheduling machine operation of claim 2 wherein the receiving means includes means for receiving the data representative of the output work units defined by constraints on attributes of such work units such that the identification means is enabled to identify the capabilities that produce the specified article.
 4. The system for generically scheduling machine operation of claim 3 wherein the receiving means includes means for receiving the data representative of timing data defined by resource allocations or hybridized interval constraints inclusive of finite-state data such that the sequence means is enabled to sequence the identified capabilities.
 5. The system for generically scheduling machine operation of claim 4 wherein the receiving means includes means for receiving the data representative of the itinerary defined by a sequence of timed control commands such that the initiation means is enabled to initiate machine operations associated with sequenced capabilities.
 6. The system for generically scheduling machine operation according to claim 1, wherein the generic scheduler includes predictive capabilities.
 7. The system for generically scheduling machine operation according to claim 1, wherein the generic scheduler includes, receiving means, identification means, sequence means and initiation means.
 8. A system for generically scheduling printing machine operation of a printing machine having a generic scheduler and machine-specific information wherein the generic scheduler operates independent of the machine-specific information, the system comprising:receiving means for receiving generic description data representative of combined capabilities of a plurality of printing machine modules, wherein each printing machine module which supplies generic description data being modeled in accordance with its machine-specific information independent of machine-specific information of any other printing machine module; identification means for identifying a subset of the combined capabilities necessary to produce a desired document by selective utilization of the printing machine modules; sequence means for sequencing printing machine operations of a set of capabilities identified by the identification means, including solving for constraints existing in the selected combined printing machine modules so as to produce the desired document; and initiation means for initiating a sequence of machine operations determined by the sequence means so as to produce the desired document.
 9. The system for generically scheduling printing machine operation of claim 8 wherein the receiving means includes means for receiving the generic description data formed from data representative of:output work units of the at least one printing machine module at an exit port thereof; resource allocations or interval constraints required for producing the desired document; and an itinerary through which the desired document is produced.
 10. The system for generically scheduling printing machine operation of claim 9 wherein the receiving means includes means for receiving the data representative of the output work units being defined by constraints on attributes of such work units.
 11. The system for generically scheduling printing machine operation according to claim 8, wherein the generic scheduler includes predictive capabilities.
 12. The system for generically scheduling printing machine operation according to claim 8, wherein the generic scheduler includes the receiving means, identification means, sequence means and initiation means. 